Hemingway's Ghost (2015)

Photo by Patrick Murphy-Racey

Robert Harrison made his acting debut in 2013 as the Ghost of King Hamlet in the Clayton Center production of Hamlet. He played the Stage Manager in the Lyric Theatre Company production of Our Town. He worked on sets and lighting for the LTC productions of The Foreigner and You Can’t Take It with You, He enjoyed being Lane in The Importance of Being Earnest and the Foley in The Christmas Tree Angel Radio Drama. He directed Soldier Come Home.

"I am thankful to Robert Cranny for bringing such a compelling script to Lyric Theatre Company and for his confidence that I can do it justice. I am thankful to Lyric Theatre Company for allowing us to present this work and to Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network for their support. I am thankful to Lois Snow who has supported me throughout rehearsal for this show, our Lyric Theatre Company journey, and twenty-five years of marriage. I am thankful to Walker Snow Harrison for introducing me to theatre, his willingness to explore this script with me, and his willingness to coach and criticize me. I am thankful to God, without whom I would not have the courage or peace, to confront the demons and dark places. And, I am thankful to you, the audience, for attending."

Photo by Lyn

Robert Cranny was born in Dublin and arrived in the U.S. in his late teens. After he arrived in the States, he spent three years in the Marine Corps. His first novel, "The Storm" appeared in 1983 to critical acclaim. His dialogue was described by "The Irish Times" as being "the truest since Joyce's 'A Portrait...'" His second novel, "Faces Along the Bar" was published in 2002. Actor, Gabriel Byrne wrote, "I salute this wonderful book - the world it invokes, its characters, plot and structure are vivid and true." His third novel, "The White Deer - A Mystical Irish Tale" was published October 2013. It received an excellent Kirkus Review.

He has written several plays, one on the writer, Nancy Mitford; another on the great Hollywood director, John Ford. Hemingway's Ghost was originally titled "The Big Out." He's also written several screenplays including Sam Shepherd's "The Curse of the Starving Class"; "Alphabet City" and "Rock the Paint" which was featured at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Scott Payne was a longtime volunteer with TSPN before taking the role of East Tennessee Regional Coordinator in January, 2015.While living in Nashville, Payne was the Director of Crisis and Information Services for Family and Children’s Service, and facilitator of Survivors of Suicide (SOS) support group in Franklin. Upon returning to East Tennessee he served as Emergency Services Grant Coordinator for TORCH in Oak Ridge, which is an agency that performs rapid rehousing for people who have become homeless.He has served on the Boards of Tennessee Alliance of Information Systems and the Circle Center. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from UT-Knoxville and a Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University.